2nd FRIDAY IN ORDINARY TIME - Gospel (Mark 3:13-19) - THE WORD OF GOD FOR EVERYONE

“He appointed Twelve, whom he also named Apostles, that they might be with him and he might send them forth to preach and to have authority to drive out demons.” (Mk 3:14-15)

FIRST READING - 1 Sm 24:3-21

"I will not raise a hand against my master, for he is the Lord’s anointed."

A reading from the Book of Samuel

³ So Saul took three thousand of the best men from all Israel and went in search of David and his men in the direction of the wild goat crags. ⁴ When he came to the sheepfolds along the way, he found a cave, which he entered to relieve himself. David and his men were occupying the inmost recesses of the cave.

⁵ David’s servants said to him, “This is the day about which the Lord said to you: I will deliver your enemy into your hand; do with him as you see fit.” So David moved up and stealthily cut off an end of Saul’s robe. ⁶ Afterward, however, David regretted that he had cut off an end of Saul’s robe. ⁷ He said to his men, “The Lord forbid that I should do such a thing to my master, the Lord’s anointed, to lay a hand on him, for he is the Lord’s anointed.” ⁸ With these words David restrained his men and would not permit them to attack Saul. Saul then left the cave and went on his way. ⁹ David also stepped out of the cave, calling to Saul, “My lord the king!” When Saul looked back, David bowed, his face to the ground in homage, ¹⁰ and asked Saul: “Why do you listen to those who say, ‘David is trying to harm you’? ¹¹ You see for yourself today that the Lord just now delivered you into my hand in the cave. I was told to kill you, but I took pity on you instead. I decided, ‘I will not raise a hand against my master, for he is the Lord’s anointed.’ ¹² Look here, my father. See the end of your robe which I hold. I cut off an end of your robe and did not kill you. Now see and be convinced that I plan no harm and no rebellion. I have done you no wrong, though you are hunting me down to take my life. ¹³ May the Lord judge between me and you. May the Lord exact justice from you in my case. I shall not lay a hand on you. ¹⁴ As the old proverb says, ‘From the wicked comes wickedness.’ Thus I will not lay a hand on you. ¹⁵ What is the king of Israel attacking? What are you pursuing? A dead dog! A single flea! ¹⁶ The Lord will be the judge to decide between us. May the Lord see this, defend my cause, and give me justice against you!”

¹⁷ When David finished saying these things to Saul, Saul answered, “Is that your voice, my son David?” And he wept freely. ¹⁸ Saul then admitted to David: “You are more in the right than I am. You have treated me graciously, while I have treated you badly. ¹⁹ You have declared this day how you treated me graciously: the Lord delivered me into your hand and you did not kill me. ²⁰ For if someone comes upon an enemy, do they send them graciously on their way? So may the Lord reward you graciously for what you have done this day. ²¹ And now, since I know that you will certainly become king and that the kingship over Israel shall come into your possession,

GOSPEL OF THE DAY - Mk 3:13-19

"He summoned those whom he wanted, that they might be with him"

✠From the Gospel according to Mark

¹³ He went up the mountain^[a] and summoned those whom he wanted and they came to him. ¹⁴ He appointed twelve [whom he also named apostles] that they might be with him^[b] and he might send them forth to preach ¹⁵ and to have authority to drive out demons: ^16 [c][he appointed the twelve:] Simon, whom he named Peter; ¹⁷ James, son of Zebedee, and John the brother of James, whom he named Boanerges, that is, sons of thunder; ¹⁸ Andrew, Philip, Bartholomew, Matthew, Thomas, James the son of Alphaeus; Thaddeus, Simon the Cananean, ¹⁹ and Judas Iscariot who betrayed him.

2nd FRIDAY IN ORDINARY TIME - Gospel (Mark 3:13-19)

THE WORD OF GOD FOR EVERYONE

Dear people of God,

In today’s Word of God, God reveals to all humanity that Jesus chose the twelve apostles to accompany Him in His plan of salvation.

All things lie within God's plan. God knows beforehand those He has chosen, and when the time is right, God comes to meet and call those He desires. All is within His power; whom God chooses to call is according to His will.

God knows the human heart thoroughly; He understands our thoughts, words, and deeds; no one understands humanity as thoroughly as God.

Before Jesus chose and called the apostles, He prayed, uniting Himself intimately with God the Father to choose those whom God desired, so that they would be with Him and receive strength and power from Him to carry out the mission He wished to entrust to them.

God also made it known to all humanity that He came into the world to become man to accompany and be with humanity in the fight against Satan.

Out of love for humanity, God did not work alone in the plan of salvation, but He created opportunities for people to collaborate with Him in eradicating Satan. Therefore, God chose and called the apostles and those He desired, granting them the authority to cast out demons so that they could continue His mission on this earth.

That mission continues to this day, as God continues to grant the gift of exorcism to those He chooses and calls to collaborate in His plan; people are merely instruments used by God.

God calls upon the apostles, or those whom He has chosen, to always live in a spirit of gratitude to Him, to always listen to and practice what God the Father teaches; only then will God's power and authority to cast out demons be manifested through that person; otherwise, Satan will not submit when the command of exorcism is given.

God is calling people to awareness in today's world to come to Him and ask for His power and authority to drive Satan out of every person's soul and body. God's power will be manifested in those who know how to seek and run to His might and strength earnestly.

For only God can defeat Satan, and those whom God uses in His plan must absolutely obey His holy will and act exactly according to what He instructs. Only then will God's power and strength be manifested through that person.

Thus, Satan will fear and retreat before those who dare to live and act according to God's teachings.

Thanks be to God. Amen.

19:00 Jan 23, 2026 - Prayer of Divine Mercy - The Way to Heaven